Barrel-head



(No Model.)

'T, G. TURNER. -Barre1 Head.

No.- 238,620. Paten t ed March 8, I881.

Litter-nay.

MPETERS. PHDTO-LTNOGRAPMER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

THOMAS G. TURNER, OF MARSERALLTON, DELAWARE.

BARREL-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,620, dated March 8, 1881.

Application filed January 13, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. TURNER, of Marshallton, county of New Castle, and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrel-Heads; and I hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of the head, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line X X of Fig.1.

My invention relates to heads for barrels, firkins, tubs, and similar vessels, and in particular to that class of heads consisting of two parts, which are tightened up within the chine by means of a central wedge.

My invention consists in constructing this wedge in two parts, having a total length equal to the maximum width of the head-opening, whereby, in pressing the parts of the wedge down into place, the sections of the head are driven apart, as hereinafter explained, and the wedge is held in place by a suitable looking device.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the barrel or firkin, which is of the usual shape. The head consists of two parts, a a, between which fits the two-part wedge I) b. The ends of the parts b I)" which meet are matched, as shown, the one being beveled and the other having a transverse V-shaped groove; or they may be otherwise made to fit together. A metallic strip, B, is screwed or otherwise attached to the head, and is arranged to be swung to a position crossing the wedge, by preference near the center, to hold it down. In lieu of this a slotted bar maybe pivoted to one part of the head and be secured by a staple and padlock to the other.

To insert the head the two parts a a are laid in place with their beveled edges in the groove on the inside of the chine. The wider wedgesection is then placed bet-ween the parts a a, with its curved end also lying in the groove. The matched ends of the parts b b are then brought together and sufficiently raised above the plane of the head to admit of the smaller end of the wedge being brought between the sections a a. The parts of the wedge are then pressed down as a toggle-joint flush with the head, causing the smaller end of the wedge to drive the head-sections a a apart and tightly against the chine. The strip B is then swung around over the wedge and secured.

(No model.)

To facilitate the lifting of the wedge when it is desired to take out the head, a strip of tin, 0, may be inserted in a saw-kerf in one of the sections, and its ends be allowed to lie on the head and under the strip B. Should the parts of the head or wedge shrink and become loose, a strip of paper or card-board inserted between the matched ends readily obviates the difficulty. The edges of the wedge and head sections are preferably rabbeted, as shown in dotted lines.

It will be seen that the head is of such construction that it may be readily and quickly inserted and taken out, and need cost no more than the common head, as it demands no more fitting than the same. Its peculiar features render it eminently adapted for use as a head for butter-tubs and other vessels whose contents need to be frequently exposed.

The two-part wedge, in being pressed down flush with the head, operates on the wellknown principle of the toggle-joint or kneejoint, the leverage of which, as its arms come nearly into right line, is immense. The result in the present case is, that a slight pressure downward upon the joint of the wedge will expand the sectors of the head tightly into contact with the chine.

What I claim isl. A barrel'head consisting of four partsnamely, a two-part wedge and two sectors, and means for locking the parts in closed position, the meeting edges of the wedge and sectors being at right angles to their faces, the said wedge having a length equal to the inside diameters of the head-opening of the barrel, and being adapted, as set forth, to be pressed down after the manner of a togglejoint and drive the sectors tightly against the chine, as set forth.

2. The barrel-head herein described, consisting of the sectors and two-part wedge, having their meeting edges at right angles to their faces, the meeting edges of the wedge being respectively beveled and grooved, in combination with a suitable locking device, as set forth.

3. In combination with the sectors and twopart wedge, having their meeting edges at right angles to their faces, the strip B, crossing the wedge, and the strip 0, for starting the wedge, as set forth.

Witnesses:

WRIGHT KING, JOHN 0. 00m.

THOMAS G. TURNER. 

